Negros Or. PNP director set for relief

DUMAGUETE CITY , Philippines — Negros Oriental Provincial Police (NOrPPO) director Sr. Supt. Edward Carranza on Sunday confirmed that he is up for transfer in the coming days, and that he already packed his belongings and is now set to go.

Carranza however has yet to receive the official relief order from the Police Regional Office-7 until now, but his purported relief came after a meeting held Saturday at the PRO-7 headquarters in Cebu City that tackled the reshuffling of police officials in Central Visayas.

Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo, PRO-7 director, had given Carranza a warning order during the meeting to enable the latter to prepare for his relief from his position, which he held for 16 months since September 2011.

Carranza was further told to prepare to vacate the post. It was not immediately clear why he would be relieved, but he said it was apparently for “promotion” purposes.

Reported to replace Carranza as OIC of the NOrPPO will be Sr. Supt. Noli Romana, a “mistah” or classmate of the former at the Philippine Military Academy-Class 1986. Romana was expected to assume office yesterday but without the usual turnover of command ceremony.

Governor Roel Degamo was already informed of Carranza's relief, but the PNP hierarchy has not yet submitted to him a list of three PNP officials from whom he shall pick the next permanent police director of the province as mandated by law.

It was expected that the usual process by which a provincial police director of the governor's choice and approval would take place after the May 13 elections this year, such that Romana will be appointed in an OIC capacity yet.  (FREEMAN)